Sarah Paulson Headshot

Sarah Paulson

Birth Place: Tampa, FL, USA

Get Sarah Paulson Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Sarah Paulson BIO

Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award winner SARAH PAULSON last appeared onstage in New York in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Lanford Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winning play Talley’s Folly in spring 2013. Other stage appearances include the Broadway productions of Collected Stories, opposite Linda Lavin, and The Glass Menagerie alongside Jessica Lange; the Mark Taper Forum production of The Cherry Orchard opposite Alfred Molina and Annette Bening; and off-Broadway in Tracy Letts’ critically acclaimed Killer Joe. Paulson received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her portrayal of attorney Marcia Clark in FX’s critically acclaimed miniseries “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.” Paulson also received a Golden Globe® Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critics’ Choice Award and a Television Critics Association Award for this role. Her many additional TV credits include her performance as Linda Tripp in FX’s “Impeachment: American Crime Story” (Emmy nomination, also Executive Producer); the title role in the Netflix series, “Ratched” (also Executive Producer), which debuted at number one across 50 countries worldwide and earned Paulson a Golden Globe® nomination; the FX on Hulu Emmy-nominated limited series, “Mrs. America,” opposite Cate Blanchett; Aaron Sorkin's “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (Golden Globe nomination); HBO’s “Coastal Elites” and “Game Change” (Emmy and Golden Globe nominations); ten installments of Ryan’s Murphy’s award-winning television series “American Horror Story,” where she also made her directorial debut with the 78-minute crossover episode, “Return to Murder House.” Paulson has received five Emmy® nominations for her roles in the franchise, as well as two Critics’ Choice Awards for her roles in the anthology series. Paulson’s many film credits include Warner Bros.’ Ocean’s 8; Todd Haynes’ critically acclaimed Carol alongside Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara; Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave, which received an Academy Award® for Best Picture. She has also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s The Post opposite Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep; Aneesh Chaganty’s Run for Hulu; M. Night Shyamalan's thriller Glass for Universal; Netflix’s Bird Box opposite Sandra Bullock; DreamWorks Animation’s Abominable. Other film credits include Martha Marcy May Marlene; Down with Love; What Women Want, The Other Sister. Upcoming, she will executive produce and star in Searchlight’s horror thriller, Dust; will appear in Bruce Norris’ film adaptation of his Pulitzer, Tony, and Olivier award-winning play, Clybourne Park, directed by Pam MacKinnon; and in Bad Robot’s series adaptation of Glennon Doyle’s memoir, “Untamed.”

Sarah Paulson Photos

Sarah Paulson STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Second Stage Original Broadway Production, 2023
Antoinette "Toni" Lafayette

[Off-Broadway]
Roundabout Theatre Company Production, 2013
Sally Talley

[Broadway]
Manhattan Theatre Club Production, 2010
Lisa Morrison

[Off-Broadway]
MCC Theater Production, 2009
Carrie Ann

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway Revival, 2008
Meg Magrath

Meg Magrath

[Off-Broadway]
2005
Harriet

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2005
The Daughter

[Off-Broadway]
1998
Dottie Smith

[Off-Broadway]
1994
Vesta Jackson


Sarah Paulson Movies

Levitation
[ 1997 ] Acey Rawlin
The Other Sister
[ 1999 ] Heather
Held Up
[ 1999 ] Mary
What Women Want
[ 2000 ] Annie
Bug
[ 2002 ] Eilleen
Down with Love
[ 2003 ] Vikki Hiller
The Notorious Bettie Page
[ 2005 ] Bunny Yeager
Serenity
[ 2005 ] Dr. Caron
Swimmers
[ 2005 ] Merrill
Griffin & Phoenix
[ 2006 ] Peri
Diggers
[ 2006 ] Julie
The Spirit
[ 2008 ] Ellen
Martha Marcy May Marlene
[ 2011 ] Lucy
Fairhaven
[ 2012 ] Kate
The Time Being
[ 2012 ] Sarah
Mud
[ 2012 ] Mary Lee
12 Years a Slave
[ 2013 ] Mistress Epps
The Runner
[ 2015 ] Kate Haber
Carol
[ 2015 ] Abby Gerhard
Blue Jay
[ 2016 ] Amanda
Rebel in the Rye
[ 2017 ] Dorothy Olding
The Post
[ 2017 ] Tony Bradlee
Bird Box
[ 2018 ] Jessica
Ocean's Eight
[ 2018 ] Tammy
Abominable
[ 2019 ] Dr. Zara
Glass
[ 2019 ] Dr. Ellie Staple
The Goldfinch
[ 2019 ] Xandra
Run
[ 2020 ] Mother, Diane

Sarah Paulson TV Shows

American Crime Story
Linda Tripp, Marcia Clark
American Gothic
Merlyn Temple
American Horror Story
Lana Winters, Bette Tattler, Dot Tattler
Desperate Housewives
Lydia Lindquist
Jack & Jill
Elisa Cronkite
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Harriet Hayes

Sarah Paulson Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play

Sarah Paulson, Appropriate

Drama League Awards - 2024 - Distinguished Performance

Sarah Paulson, Appropriate

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play

Sarah Paulson, Appropriate

Tony Awards - 2024 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Sarah Paulson, Appropriate

Sarah Paulson Videos

Sarah Paulson News


Photos: The New Dramatists Honor Michael Greif at Annual Luncheon


The New Dramatists recently hosted its Annual Spring Luncheon Tribute on Tuesday, May 14 at the New York Marriott Marquis. See photos from inside the event. 

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld May 15, 2024


Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is May 15, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Listen: Sarah Paulson Calls Out Trish Hawkins For Criticizing Her Performance in TALLEY'S FOLLY


Sarah Paulson hasn't forgotten the actress who criticized a performance she gave over 10 years ago, and she has spoken out about it on a recent episode of Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett’s “Smartless” podcast.

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG And STEREOPHONIC Lead LGBTQ Critics' Dorian Theater Award Nominations


GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics' 39 theater wing members named their favorites in New York theater for the second annual Dorian Theater Awards, this time toasting the best in Broadway and Off-Broadway for the 2023-2024 season.

First Standings Announced For the 21st Annual Theatre Fans' Choice Awards; THE GREATS GATSBY Leads Best Musical


The first standings have been announced for the 21st Annual Theater Fans' Choice Awards. The Theater Fans' Choice Awards, honoring and celebrating the best of New York Theater - as decided by the most important critics, the audience at large - allowing YOU to have your say during the most exciting time of the year for the theater community.

STEREOPHONIC, SUFFS & More Win Outer Critics Circle Awards


The Outer Critics Circle, the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers and national publications, announced the winners of the 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards. Check out the Full List of winners here!

Video: Sarah Paulson Talks APPROPRIATE and More on CBS SUNDAY MORNING


In this video, Sarah Paulson discusses her life growing up at LaGuardia High School in New York City, her relationship with Holland Taylor, and starring in Appropriate on Broadway on CBS Sunday Morning.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld May 13, 2024


Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is May 13, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Photos: APPROPRIATE's Sarah Paulson Receives Portrait at Sardi's


Sarah Paulson, currently appearing in Appropriate on Broadway, was honored with her portrait at Sardi's recently. BroadwayWorld was there for the unveiling and you can check out photos here!

Photos: Andrew Scott Visits APPROPRIATE on Broadway


Stage and screen star Andrew Scott just paid a visit to the Belasco Theatre! Scott recently attended a performance of the 8-time Tony-nominated Appropriate and posed backstage with the cast. Check out photos.

Photos: Behind the Scenes with the 2024 Tony Nominees


The nominees gathered at the Sofitel New York on Thursday to meet the press for the first time and BroadwayWorld was there for the special day. Check out behind the scenes photos of the 2024 nominees below and check out even more of the acting nominees and creative nominees.

Photos: Meet the 2024 Tony Nominees for Acting


The nominees gathered at the Sofitel New York yesterday to meet the press for the first time and BroadwayWorld was there for the special day. Check out photos of the 2024 acting nominees here!

2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!


Nominations for the 2024 Drama Desk Awards have just been announced by Kathleen Turner. Check out the full list of nominees here!

A Guide to the 2024 Tony Awards Nominations


The 77th Annual Tony Award Nominations will be announced on Tuesday, April 30, by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Renée Elise Goldsbery. The announcement can be viewed LIVE (9am ET) in their entirety here on BroadwayWorld.

Recap Tony Awards Eligibility Decisions of the 2023-24 Season


The Tony Awards Administration Committee has been meeting all year to discuss the eligibility of the 2023-24 Broadway productions all leading up to Tuesdays big announcement... the Tony nominations.

2024 Tony Awards Nominations - Show by Show


The nominations are in! Check out how each show fared individually in a full list of nominations by show.

2024 Tony Award Nominations- HELL'S KITCHEN and STEREOPHONIC Lead the Pack!


The 77th Annual Tony Awards nominations were announced this morning by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Renee Elise Goldsberry and here they are, celebrating the best of the 2023-24 theatre season. Check out the full list of nominees here!

Photos: Former Cast Member Elle Fanning Visits APPROPRIATE Cast


Former cast member Elle Fanning recently stopped by Appropriate to visit with the cast! Fanning left the show last month, and the role of River was taken over by Ella Beatty. Check out photos of Elle Fanning backstage with the cast of Appropriate here!

DEAD OUTLAW, STEREOPHONIC & More Lead in Nominations for 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards


Read the full list of 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations! Leading the nominations are Stereophonic and Dead Outlaw.

Photos: On the Red Carpet For Opening Night of PATRIOTS On Broadway


Michael Stuhlbarg is back on Broadway in Patriots, the timely new play by Peter Morgan, and directed by two-time Olivier Award winner Rupert Goold. See photos from the red carpet at Broadway turns out to celebrate opening night of this new political drama.

Sarah Paulson FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Sarah Paulson been in?

Sarah Paulson has appeared on Broadway in 3 shows.

How many West End shows has Sarah Paulson been in?

Sarah Paulson has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Sarah Paulson been nominated for?

Sarah Paulson has been nominated for the following awards: - Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Appropriate - Distinguished Performance (Drama League Awards) for Appropriate - Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Appropriate.

Get Sarah Paulson Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos